Word
BCE
Phoneticsbce
Definition
adv. Stands for Before Common Era. A way to count years before the year 1. Used instead of BC in history and science.
adv. Abbreviation for Before Common Era. Designating the era before the year 1 in the Gregorian calendar. Used as a secular alternative to BC (Before Christ), typically following the year number.
Examples
“The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BCE.”
“Historians often use BCE to maintain a neutral tone when discussing ancient civilizations that were not Christian.”
“While the transition from BC to BCE has become standard in academic publishing, the numerical values remain identical, ensuring that chronological data remains consistent across different naming conventions.”
Examples
simple
“The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BCE.”
contextual
“Historians often use BCE to maintain a neutral tone when discussing ancient civilizations that were not Christian.”
complex
“While the transition from BC to BCE has become standard in academic publishing, the numerical values remain identical, ensuring that chronological data remains consistent across different naming conventions.”
Usage
Typically placed immediately after the year number; often written in small capitals in formal typesetting.
Pitfall
In the BCE 500
In 500 BCE
BCE must follow the year number, whereas 'In the' is unnecessary when providing a specific date.
Real-World Examples
Common in history and science writing
“Founded in the 8th century BCE, Rome was initially confined to the Tiber’s eastern shore.” “One of the more recent findings was a dagger made from meteorite iron discovered in Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb, dating to around the 14th century BCE.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bce